Posted by partlycloudy on September 14, 2004, at 9:27:35
Hello all, I had another EMDR appointment yesterday. I have the goal of ending my problems with alcohol, and both therapists determined that it might help.
It was fascinating - the guilt and shame I feel are so close to the surface, it was very easy to bring up troubling images and emotions. We went through a "typical" alcoholic episode, and have developed an exercise to help me stop my self destructive behaviour.
Again, I left the appointment bouyant and that has carried over to the following day. The possibility that I might be able to make a paradigm shift in my core beliefs and Get A Life beyond the oblivion of one or three martinis is a source of such hope for me. The exercise mostly consists of stopping myself at a point where the anxiety sets in about getting that drink inside me, and reminding myself that it's OK to feel discomfort, and that it will pass.
I'm scared about being successful in this, as it has coloured absolutely everything in my life since being a child. My every move, every decision in life has been associated in some way with alcohol - no wonder I'm afraid. I'm getting anxious just thinking about changing this part of my life permanently.
Thanks for listening.
poster:partlycloudy
thread:390615
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040911/msgs/390615.html